BP loses personal details on spill victims

Infamously leaky oil company BP has lost a laptop containing personal information, social security numbers and other details on 13,000 people claiming compensation for the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

The laptop was password-protected but not encrypted. It was lost 1 March by a travelling BP exec.

BP said the lappy contained a spreadsheet with names, addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth and social security numbers for 13,000 people who made claims relating to the Deepwater disaster. They all made claims against BP before the Gulf Coast Claims Facility was set up.

The company said it immediately reported the loss to police and internal security.

BP said: "There is no evidence that the laptop or data was targeted or that anyone’s personal data has in fact been compromised or accessed in any way. Our Security team continues to monitor the situation very closely and we are still in touch with authorities in an attempt to recover the laptop."

It said it took protection of personal information very seriously and regretted the loss of the laptop.

The oil giant has written to all 13,000 people to warn them and offered free ID and credit monitoring. Despite this claim, reporters for AP found at least two claimants who had still to hear from BP. ®